Legge Lands Late Indy 500 Seat

Katherine Legge, seen here in 2012, will attempt to qualify for the 2013 Indianapolis 500 in a car fielded by Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. (John Cote/IMS Photo)

SPEEDWAY, Ind. – Schmidt Peterson Motorsports has signed Katherine Legge to drive its third entry in the 2013 Indianapolis 500.

Legge will pilot the No. 81 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Dallara/Honda as she attempts to qualifying for her second Indianapolis 500.

“I’m psyched to get back in the car, especially at Indy because this is such a special place,” said Legge. “I owe a huge thank you to Honda, Firestone, the IZOD IndyCar Series and especially Schmidt Peterson Motorsports for pulling this together in the last minute to get the car on track. I was talking with Sam (Schmidt) in 2011 about driving one of his cars, and I’m so excited to finally get in one of them and work with the entire team in addition to Simon (Pagenaud) and Tristan (Vautier).”

In 2012, Legge started 30th and finished 22nd in her rookie year at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. She made 10 starts on the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series schedule, five of which were on oval tracks.

“I’m very happy that we were able to give Katherine a shot at her second Indianapolis 500, which is a lifelong dream of hers,” Ric Peterson, equity owner of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, said.

Legge finished ninth in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series finale at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., the only other 500-mile race on the series’ schedule.

“Katherine’s top-10 finish in Fontana last year showed me that she has the speed and endurance to finish a 500-mile race, which are the most grueling conditions our drivers encounter,” Sam Schmidt said. “Our team is working very hard to build her car and give her the equipment she needs to qualify and race competitively at Indianapolis.”